Shift register memory device, shift register, and data storage method

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, a shift register memory device includes a shift register, a program/read element, and a rotating force application unit. The shift register includes a plurality of rotors arranged along one direction and provided with a uniaxial anisotropy. Each of the plurality of rotors has a characteristic direction rotatable around a rotational axis extending in the one direction. The program/read element is configured to program data to the shift register by causing the characteristic direction of one of the rotors to match one selected from two directions conforming to the uniaxial anisotropy and configured to read the data by detecting the characteristic direction. The rotating force application unit is configured to apply a rotating force to the shift register to urge the characteristic direction to rotate. The plurality of rotors are organized into a plurality of pairs of every two mutually adjacent rotors. A first force acts to urge the characteristic directions to be opposingly parallel for two of the rotors belonging to the same pair. A second force acts to urge the characteristic directions to be opposingly parallel for two mutually adjacent rotors belonging to mutually adjacent pairs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-103604, filed on Apr. 28,2010; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a shift register memorydevice, a shift register, and a data storage method.

BACKGROUND

To date, higher integration of memory has progressed by downscaling toreduce the memory cell size. A conventional memory device includes astorage element that stores data, a program/read unit that selects thestorage element, programs data, and reads the data, and an interconnectthat transmits the data to the storage element; and these are made foreach memory cell. Therefore, it is necessary to perform the downscalingof all of the components of the memory cell recited above to increasethe memory cell integration; and there has been a limitation onincreasing the integration. On the other hand, shift register memorydevices have been proposed in which only the storage elements aredisposed with high density and the data is shifted through the storageelement column to transfer the data to a program/read unit provided in aseparate location. However, while it is practically necessary to storenot less than 100 positions of data in one storage element column insuch a case, unfortunately, it has been exceedingly difficult tosynchronously move 100 or more positions of data accurately.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a shift register according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a shift register memory deviceaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a program/read element ofthe shift register memory device according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate states that one rotor pair may have in thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 5A illustrates the case where the same data is stored in mutuallyadjacent rotor pairs and FIG. 5B illustrates the case where mutuallydifferent data is stored in the mutually adjacent rotor pairs;

FIG. 6 illustrates a data shift method of the first embodiment;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are graphs illustrating operations of a rotating forceapplication unit in which the horizontal axis is the time and thevertical axis is the current flowing through the interconnects and FIG.7C illustrates the direction of the magnetic field applied to the shiftregister;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a shift register memorydevice according to a first variation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a shift register memorydevice according to a second variation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a shift register memorydevice according to a third variation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 illustrates a shift register according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a shift register memorydevice according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a program/read element of theshift register memory device according to the second embodiment; and

FIG. 14 illustrates a data shift method of the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, a shift register memory deviceincludes a shift register, a program/read element, and a rotating forceapplication unit. The shift register includes a plurality of rotorsarranged along one direction and provided with a uniaxial anisotropy.Each of the plurality of rotors has a characteristic direction rotatablearound a rotational axis extending in the one direction. Theprogram/read element is configured to program data to the shift registerby causing the characteristic direction of one of the rotors to matchone selected from two directions conforming to the uniaxial anisotropyand configured to read the data by detecting the characteristicdirection. The rotating force application unit is configured to apply arotating force to the shift register to urge the characteristicdirection to rotate. The plurality of rotors are organized into aplurality of pairs of every two mutually adjacent rotors. A first forceacts to urge the characteristic directions to be opposingly parallel fortwo of the rotors belonging to the same pair. A second force acts tourge the characteristic directions to be opposingly parallel for twomutually adjacent rotors belonging to mutually adjacent pairs.

According to another embodiment, a data storage method is disclosed. Themethod can include programming data in a shift register including aplurality of rotors arranged along one direction and provided with auniaxial anisotropy. Each of the plurality of rotors has acharacteristic direction rotatable around a rotational axis extending inthe one direction. The plurality of rotors are organized into aplurality of pairs of every two mutually adjacent rotors. A first forceacts to urge the characteristic directions to be opposingly parallel fortwo of the rotors belonging to the same pair. A second force acts tourge the characteristic directions to be opposingly parallel for twomutually adjacent rotors belonging to mutually adjacent pairs. The datais programmed to the pair including one of the rotors of the shiftregister by causing the characteristic direction of the one of therotors to match one selected from two directions conforming to theuniaxial anisotropy by rotating the characteristic direction of the oneof the rotors in one rotation direction. The method can include shiftingdata in a direction away from the one of the rotors by applying arotating force to the shift register to urge the characteristicdirection to rotate in the one rotation direction. The method caninclude shifting data in a direction toward the one of the rotors byapplying a rotating force to the shift register to urge thecharacteristic direction to rotate in a direction reverse to the onerotation direction. In addition, the method can include reading the dataprogrammed to the pair including the one of the rotors by detecting thecharacteristic direction of the one of the rotors.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to thedrawings.

First, a first embodiment of the invention will be described.

FIG. 1 illustrates a shift register according to this embodiment.

In the shift register 1 according to this embodiment as illustrated inFIG. 1, a ferromagnet layer 11, a thin ruthenium layer 12, a ferromagnetlayer 13, and a thick ruthenium layer 14 are stacked in this orderrepeatedly. The ferromagnet layers 11 and 13 are made of, for example, aferromagnet material, e.g., a nickel-iron alloy (a NiFe alloy); and thethickness of each is, for example, 4 nm. The ruthenium layers 12 and 14are made of ruthenium (Ru); and the thickness of the thick rutheniumlayer 14 is thicker than the thickness of the thin ruthenium layer 12.The thickness of the thin ruthenium layer 12 is, for example, 0.8 nm;and the thickness of the thick ruthenium layer 14 is 2.1 nm.

The configuration of the shift register 1 as viewed from the stackingdirection of the layers is a configuration extending along one axis,e.g., an ellipse, an oval, a diamond shape, a rectangle, etc.Accordingly, the configuration of the shift register 1 is, for example,an elliptical columnar configuration, an oval columnar configuration, adiamond-shaped columnar configuration, a rectangular columnarconfiguration, etc., extending in the stacking direction. Hereinbelow,the major-diameter direction of the shift register 1 as viewed from thestacking direction is referred to as the “major-axis direction”; and theminor-diameter direction is referred to as the “minor-axis direction.”The stacking direction, the major-axis direction, and the minor-axisdirection are mutually orthogonal.

In this embodiment, each of the ferromagnet layers 11 and 13 is taken tobe a “rotor”; and a magnetization direction V_(m) thereof is taken to bea “characteristic direction.” In other words, in the shift register 1,multiple rotors are arranged in one column along the stacking directionof the layers. The magnetization direction (the characteristicdirection) of each of the ferromagnet layers 11 and 13 can be anydirection in the plane, that is, in the plane perpendicular to thestacking direction. In other words, the magnetization direction V_(m) ofeach of the ferromagnet layers is rotatable around a rotational axisextending in the stacking direction. More generally speaking, a “rotor”is a component in which the component itself of a property thereof isrotatable on its own axis; and a “characteristic direction” is adirection that represents something of the rotor that rotates.

However, several forces act on the magnetization direction V_(m) of eachof the ferromagnet layers.

First, there exists a force caused by uniaxial anisotropy. “Uniaxialanisotropy” refers to a property in which the energy is a minimum whensome vector is oriented in a designated direction (not an orientation)around a rotational axis. Because the shift register 1 has aconfiguration extending along the major-diameter direction as viewedfrom the stacking direction, the configurations of the ferromagnetlayers 11 and 13 also are configurations extending in the major-axisdirection. Thereby, the magnetization directions V_(m) of theferromagnet layers 11 and 13 are provided with uniaxial anisotropy(shape magnetic anisotropy) caused by the configuration to be easilyoriented in one of the major-axis directions. In other words, themajor-axis direction is an easy magnetization direction.

Further, there exists a force due to a strong anti-coupling action. Themagnetization direction V_(m) of the ferromagnet layer 11 and themagnetization direction V_(m) of the ferromagnet layer 13 are urged tobe oriented in mutually opposite directions because an antiferromagneticcoupling state occurs between the mutually adjacent ferromagnet layers11 and 13 having the thin ruthenium layer 12 interposed therebetween dueto the action of the thin ruthenium layer 12. Hereinbelow, this actionis referred to as a “strong anti-coupling action” for convenience in thespecification. Thereby, a force (a first force) acts to urge themagnetization direction V_(m) to be opposingly parallel between themutually adjacent ferromagnet layers 11 and 13 having the thin rutheniumlayer 12 interposed therebetween. Hereinbelow, this force is referred toas a “strong force.” The pair of mutually adjacent ferromagnet layers 11and 13 having the thin ruthenium layer 12 interposed therebetween arecoupled via the strong anti-coupling action to form a rotor pair.Thereby, the multiple ferromagnet layers 11 and the multiple ferromagnetlayers 13 belonging to the shift register 1 are organized into multiplerotor pairs of every mutually adjacent ferromagnet layers 11 and 13having the thin ruthenium layer 12 interposed therebetween.

Also, there exists a force due to a weak anti-coupling action. Due tothe action of the thick ruthenium layer 14, an antiferromagneticcoupling state occurs between the mutually adjacent ferromagnet layers11 and 13 having the thick ruthenium layer 14 interposed therebetween;and the magnetization direction V_(m) of the ferromagnet layer 11 andthe magnetization direction V_(m) of the ferromagnet layer 13 are urgedto be oriented in mutually opposite directions. Hereinbelow, this actionis referred to as a “weak anti-coupling action.” Thereby, a force (asecond force) acts to urge the magnetization direction to be opposinglyparallel between the mutually adjacent ferromagnet layers 11 and 13having the ruthenium layer 14 interposed therebetween. The second forceis weaker than the first force because the ruthenium layer 14 is thickerthan the ruthenium layer 12. Hereinbelow, the second force is referredto as a “weak force.” The pair of mutually adjacent ferromagnet layers11 and 13 having the thick ruthenium layer 14 interposed therebetween,i.e., the two mutually adjacent rotors belonging to mutually adjacentrotor pairs, are coupled via the weak anti-coupling action.

The uniaxial anisotropy, the strong anti-coupling action, and the weakanti-coupling action are actions occurring due to the internalconfiguration of the shift register 1 itself; and these actionsthemselves are static without time dependency. However, the force actingon the magnetization direction V_(m) of the individual ferromagnetlayers due to these actions, i.e., the force caused by the uniaxialanisotropy, the strong force, and the weak force, changes according tothe magnetization direction V_(m) of each of the ferromagnet layers andthe relationship between the magnetization directions V_(m) of themutually adjacent ferromagnet layers. In the case where actions otherthan the uniaxial anisotropy, the strong anti-coupling action, and theweak anti-coupling action do not act, the state in which the energy isthe lowest and the stability is the highest is a state in which themagnetization direction V_(m) of each of the ferromagnet layers isaligned in the major-axis direction and the magnetization directionsV_(m) of the mutually adjacent ferromagnet layers are mutually reversedirections, that is, a state in which the magnetization directions V_(m)of all of the ferromagnet layers 11 are the same and the magnetizationdirections V_(m) of all of the ferromagnet layers 13 are directionsreverse to the magnetization directions V_(m) of the ferromagnet layers11.

In addition to such internal forces, external forces may be applied tothe magnetization direction of each of the ferromagnet layers fromoutside the shift register 1. External forces may include a rotatingforce occurring due to a magnetic field being rotated and a force forprogramming that sets the magnetization direction to one selected fromthe major-axis directions to program data. Such forces are dynamicforces that change according to the operations of the shift register 1.Such forces are described below.

It is preferred that an intensity of the “weak force” (the second force)is about 0.9 times of an intensity of the “strong force” (the firstforce). This makes a margin expand in the shift action mentioned later.And even when the intensity of a rotation magnetic field or themagnetization intensity of each rotors varies, the shift action can bestabilized.

A shift register memory device according to this embodiment will now bedescribed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the shift register memorydevice according to this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the program/read elementof the shift register memory device according to this embodiment.

In the shift register memory device 21 according to this embodiment asillustrated in FIG. 2, a program/read element 22, a storage unit 23, anda rotating force application unit 24 are provided in order from thelower side.

In the storage unit 23, the shift register 1 described above is multiplyprovided and is arranged in a matrix configuration. Each of the shiftregisters 1 extends in the vertical direction. In other words, thestacking direction of the shift register 1 matches the verticaldirection of the shift register memory device 21. The major-axisdirections of the shift registers 1 match each other. In other words,the direction of the uniaxial anisotropy is the same for each of theshift registers 1. Further, the shift registers 1 are isolated from eachother. The lower end of each of the shift registers 1 is connected tothe program/read element 22.

The rotating force application unit 24 includes interconnects 25 a and25 b extending in mutually orthogonal directions. The interconnect 25 aextends in the major-axis direction of the shift register 1; and theinterconnect 25 b extends in the minor-axis direction of the shiftregister 1. By providing current to the interconnects 25 a and 25 b asdescribed below, a magnetic field is applied to the shift registers 1 ofthe storage unit 23 to apply a rotating force to the magnetizationdirection of each of the rotors of the shift registers 1. For example,the interconnect 25 a is provided below the interconnect 25 b, is notconnected to the shift register 1, and is not connected to theinterconnect 25 b. The rotating force application unit 24 is commonlyprovided for the multiple shift registers 1 belonging to the storageunit 23.

In the program/read element 22 as illustrated in FIG. 3, a program wordline 31 is provided; and a bit line 32 is provided thereon. The programword line 31 and the bit line 32 are mutually orthogonal. For example,the program word line 31 extends in the major-axis direction of theshift register 1; and the bit line 32 extends in the minor-axisdirection. Each of the program word line 31 and the bit line 32 has ayoke structure in which a ferromagnet layer 35 made of a ferromagnetmaterial such as an iron-nickel alloy is provided on the lower face andon the side faces of an interconnect main body 34 made of alow-resistance material such as copper (Cu) or tungsten (W). In otherwords, in the program word line 31 and the bit line 32, the ferromagnetlayer 35 has a C-shaped configuration in cross sections perpendicular tothe directions in which these interconnects extend.

A reference layer 36 is provided on the bit line 32 and connected to thebit line 32. In the reference layer 36, a platinum-manganese (PtMn)alloy layer 37, an iron-nickel (NiFe) alloy layer 38, a ruthenium (Ru)layer 39, and an iron-nickel (NiFe) alloy layer 40 are stacked in orderfrom below, i.e., from the bit line 32 side. The lower face of theplatinum-manganese alloy layer 37 contacts the upper face of the bitline 32. A tunneling barrier film 41 made of, for example, magnesiumoxide (MgO) is provided on the reference layer 36; and a lowermost-endferromagnet layer 42 made of a ferromagnet material such as, forexample, an iron-nickel alloy is provided thereon. The lowermost-endferromagnet layer 42 contacts the thin ruthenium layer 12 which is thelowermost layer of the shift register 1. Thereby, although thelowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42 functions as the ferromagnet layer ofthe lowermost layer of the shift register 1, the surface area thereof isgreater than the surface area of each of the ferromagnet layers providedin the shift register 1. Also, the reference layer 36 and the tunnelingbarrier film 41 are larger than the shift register 1 and smaller thanthe lowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42 as viewed from above. Thelowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42 is connected to one terminal of aselection transistor 44 by means of a via 43; and one other terminal ofthe selection transistor 44 is connected to a source line 45. A read-outword line 46 is connected to the gate of the selection transistor 44.The via 43 is not connected to the program word line 31. The bit line 32and the source line 45 are connected to a sense circuit (notillustrated).

Of each of the components included in the program/read element 22described above, a program/read unit 49, which includes the referencelayer 36, the tunneling barrier film 41, the lowermost-end ferromagnetlayer 42, the via 43, and the selection transistor 44, is provided forevery shift register 1. On the other hand, the program word line 31, thebit line 32, the source line 45, and the read-out word line 46 areprovided for each of the multiple shift registers 1.

Operations of the shift register memory device 21 according to thisembodiment formed as described above, that is, a method for using theshift register 1 according to this embodiment, that is, a data storagemethod according to this embodiment, will now be described.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate states that one rotor pair may have in thisembodiment.

FIG. 5A illustrates the case where the same data is stored in mutuallyadjacent rotor pairs; and FIG. 5B illustrates the case where mutuallydifferent data is stored in the mutually adjacent rotor pairs.

FIG. 6 illustrates the data shift method of this embodiment.

FIG. 7A and 7B are graphs illustrating operations of the rotating forceapplication unit in which the horizontal axis is the time and thevertical axis is the current flowing through the interconnects; and FIG.7C illustrates the direction of the magnetic field applied to the shiftregister.

First, the static states will be described.

In this embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the mutuallyadjacent ferromagnet layers 11 and 13 having the thin ruthenium layer 12interposed therebetween are included in one rotor pair 51; and the rotorpairs 51 are arranged in one column along the stacking direction. Atthis time, the characteristic directions of the two rotors belonging toone rotor pair 51, i.e., the magnetization direction of the ferromagnetlayer 11 and the magnetization direction of the ferromagnet layer 13,are oriented in mutually reverse directions due to the urging of thestrong anti-coupling action. Also, the magnetization direction of eachof the ferromagnet layers is urged to be oriented in the major-axisdirection due to the urging of the uniaxial anisotropy. Thereby, the onerotor pair 51 can have two states. In other words, the rotor pair 51 canhave the two states of a first state as illustrated in FIG. 4A in whicha magnetization direction V_(mu) of the ferromagnet layer 13, i.e., therotor of the upper side, is on the 3 o'clock-direction side and amagnetization direction V_(ml) of the ferromagnet layer 11, i.e., therotor of the lower side, is on the 9 o'clock-direction side and a secondstate as illustrated in FIG. 4B in which the magnetization directionV_(mu) of the rotor of the upper side (the ferromagnet layer 13) is onthe 9 o'clock-direction side and the magnetization direction V_(ml) ofthe rotor of the lower side (the ferromagnet layer 11) is on the 3o'clock-direction side, where one of two mutually reverse directionsalong the major-axis direction is notated as the “3 o'clock direction”when represented as a clock face and the other of the two mutuallyreverse directions along the major-axis direction is notated as the “9o'clock direction.”

Accordingly, data having a value of “0” or “1” is storable in one rotorpair 51. The “3 o'clock-direction side” refers to the range from 12o'clock to 6 o'clock including the 3 o'clock direction; and the “9o'clock-direction side” refers to the range from 6 o'clock to 12 o'clockincluding the 9 o'clock direction. FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an examplein which the first state described above is taken as the value of “0”and the second state is taken as the value of “1.”

In the case where the same value is stored in the two mutually adjacentrotor pairs as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the magnetization directions ofthe four consecutively-arranged ferromagnet layers are orientedalternately on the 3 o'clock-direction side and the 9 o'clock-directionside. In such a case, the urging of the weak anti-coupling action issatisfied because the magnetization directions are mutually reversedirections for the two mutually adjacent rotors belonging to the twomutually adjacent rotor pairs, i.e., the mutually adjacent ferromagnetlayers 13 and 11 having the thick ruthenium layer 14 interposedtherebetween. Accordingly, the magnetization directions aresubstantially the 3 o'clock direction or the 9 o'clock direction; andthe urging of the strong anti-coupling action, the urging of theuniaxial anisotropy, and the urging of the weak anti-coupling action donot interfere with each other. In such a case, the magnetizationdirections substantially cancel each other and a synthesized componentof the magnetization directions is substantially zero for the rotorpairs as an entirety.

On the other hand, in the case where mutually different values arestored in the two mutually adjacent rotor pairs as illustrated in FIG.5B, the magnetization directions of the four consecutively-arrangedferromagnet layers are on, for example, the 3 o'clock-direction side,the 9 o'clock-direction side, the 9 o'clock-direction side, and the 3o'clock-direction side. At this time, the urging of the weakanti-coupling action is no longer satisfied because the magnetizationdirections of the two mutually adjacent rotors (the ferromagnet layers)belonging to the two mutually adjacent rotor pairs are on the same side.In such a case, the strong force caused by the strong anti-couplingaction, the weak force caused by the weak anti-coupling action, and theforce caused by the uniaxial anisotropy balance such that themagnetization directions are directions for which the energy is aminimum. Restated, the state in which the magnetization directions ofthe two mutually adjacent rotors belonging to the two mutually adjacentrotor pairs are completely opposingly parallel is no longer stableenergy-wise. As a result, the magnetization directions of the twomutually adjacent rotors belonging to the two mutually adjacent rotorpairs, i.e., the mutually adjacent ferromagnet layers 13 and 11 havingthe thick ruthenium layer 14 interposed therebetween, are on the sameside but are oriented in directions slightly twisted away from eachother. In such a case, the magnetization directions do not completelycancel and a synthesized component of the magnetization directionsoccurs for the rotor pairs as an entirety.

A data programming method will now be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, magnetic force lines having annularconfigurations centered on the program word line 31 are generated byproviding current to the program word line 31. These magnetic forcelines are oriented in a direction perpendicular to the page surface,e.g., the minor-axis direction, at the position of the lowermost-endferromagnet layer 42. On the other hand, magnetic force lines havingannular configurations centered on the bit line 32 are generated byproviding current to the bit line 32. These magnetic force lines areoriented in a lateral direction of the page surface, e.g., themajor-axis direction, at the position of the lowermost-end ferromagnetlayer 42. Thereby, a magnetic field can be applied to the lowermost-endferromagnet layer 42 in any direction in the plane including theminor-axis direction and the major-axis direction by providing currentshaving prescribed sizes in prescribed directions to the program wordline 31 and the bit line 32. Thus, the magnetization direction of thelowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42 is set to match one of the major-axisdirections.

When the magnetization direction of the lowermost-end ferromagnet layer42 is set, the magnetization direction of the ferromagnet layer of onelevel thereabove, i.e., the ferromagnet layer 13 of the lowermost levelof the shift register 1, is set to a direction reverse to themagnetization direction of the lowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42 due tothe strong anti-coupling action via the thin ruthenium layer 12.Thereby, data is programmed to the rotor pair 51 of the lowermost levelmade of the lowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42 and the ferromagnet layer13 of the lowermost level of the shift register 1. In other words, theprogram word line 31 functions as a lower programming interconnect; andthe bit line 32 functions as an upper programming interconnect. At thistime, because the structures of the program word line 31 and the bitline 32 are yoke structures, pseudo-loops are formed of thelowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42 and the ferromagnet layers 35 havingthe C-shaped configurations; and the magnetic field can be appliedefficiently to the lowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42.

After programming the data to the rotor pair 51 of the lowermost level,the data of the entire shift register 1 is shifted one position upward;and the data programmed to the rotor pair 51 of the lowermost level ismoved to the rotor pair 51 of one level thereabove. “Shifting” refers tosynchronously moving the data stored in all of the rotor pairs 51 of theshift register 1 in the same direction. The shift method is describedbelow. Then, data is again programmed to the rotor pair 51 of thelowermost level by setting the magnetization direction of thelowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42. This is repeated to program a datacolumn to the shift register 1.

At this time, the direction of the magnetic field applied to thelowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42 to program the data is rotated in aconstant rotation direction, e.g., a rotation direction which isclockwise as viewed from above, to a prescribed direction. Thereby, inthe two mutually adjacent rotors belonging to the mutually adjacentrotor pairs 51, the magnetization direction of the rotor in which themagnetization direction is previously set, i.e., the rotor of the lowerside of the rotor pair 51 of the upper side, is pushed clockwise asviewed from above by the weak force due to the magnetization directionof the rotor in which the magnetization direction is set subsequently,i.e., the rotor of the upper side of the rotor pair of the lower side,to twist clockwise. As a result, the magnetization direction of therotor of the lower side of the rotor pair 51 of the upper side twistsclockwise and the magnetization direction of the rotor of the upper sideof the rotor pair 51 of the lower side twists counterclockwise with themajor-axis direction as a reference. Therefore, the direction of the“twist” is constant throughout one shift register and is, for example,the direction of a left-handed thread from the bottom upward.

At this time, it is desirable for the same value to be programmed to atleast three consecutively-arranged rotor pairs. Thereby, one bit of datais stored using at least three consecutively-arranged rotor pairs.

A data read-out method will now be described.

In the reference layer 36 as illustrated in FIG. 3, the magnetizationdirections of the iron-nickel alloy layers 38 and 40 are fixed in astate of being opposingly parallel due to the ruthenium layer 39. Whenthe magnetization direction of the iron-nickel alloy layer 40 and themagnetization direction of the lowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42 arethe same, the resistance of the tunneling current flowing through thetunneling barrier film 41 is relatively low due to a so-called tunnelingmagnetoresistance effect; and when the magnetization direction of theiron-nickel alloy layer 40 is reverse to the magnetization direction ofthe lowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42, the tunneling magnetoresistanceflowing through the tunneling barrier film 41 is relatively high.Therefore, the magnetization direction of the lowermost-end ferromagnetlayer 42 can be detected and the data of the rotor pair 51 of thelowermost level can be read by evaluating the resistance value of thetunneling barrier film 41. Specifically, the lowermost-end ferromagnetlayer 42 is connected to the source line 45 by the via 43 and theselection transistor 44. Therefore, a voltage is applied between thereference layer 36 and the lowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42 byselecting the desired read-out word line 46 to switch the selectiontransistor 44 to the on-state and then by applying a voltage between thebit line 32 and the source line 45. Then, the size of the tunnelingmagnetoresistance of the tunneling barrier film 41 can be evaluated bymeasuring the current value flowing in the bit line 32.

After reading the data of the rotor pair 51 of the lowermost level, thedata stored in the shift register 1 is shifted to the level therebelowone level at a time. The shift method is described below. Then, the dataof the rotor pair 51 of the lowermost level is read again by detectingthe magnetization direction of the lowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42.This is repeated to read the data column stored in the shift register 1.

The data shift method will now be described.

FIG. 6 illustrates simulation results of how one shift register changesover time. In FIG. 6, one rotor pair 51 is illustrated as one ellipse;the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the rotor of the upper sidebelonging to one rotor pair 51, i.e., the ferromagnet layer 13, isillustrated as a white arrow; and the magnetization direction V_(ml) ofthe rotor of the lower side, i.e., the ferromagnet layer 11, isillustrated as a black arrow.

At time t=0 as illustrated in FIG. 6, current does not flow in theinterconnects 25 a and 25 b of the rotating force application unit 24(referring to FIG. 2); and a magnetic field is not applied to the shiftregister 1. Accordingly, a rotating force is not applied to each of themagnetization directions. At this time, it is taken that the value of“0” is programmed to the consecutively-arranged multiple rotor pairsincluding the rotor pairs 51 a and 51 b, the value of “1” is programmedto the consecutively-arranged multiple rotor pairs including the rotorpairs 51 c, 51 d, and 51 e, the value of “0” is programmed to theconsecutively-arranged multiple rotor pairs including the rotor pairs 51f and 51 g, and the value of “1” is programmed to theconsecutively-arranged multiple rotor pairs including a rotor pair 51 h.The rotor pair 51 b and the rotor pair 51 c are adjacent to each other;the rotor pair 51 e and the rotor pair 51 f are adjacent to each other;and the rotor pair 51 g and the rotor pair 51 h are adjacent to eachother.

In this state as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, currents are providedto the interconnects 25 a and 25 b. Thereby, a magnetic field isgenerated; and the magnetic field is applied uniformly to the multipleshift registers 1 provided in the storage unit 23. Then, as illustratedin FIG. 7C, a magnetic field direction F_(m) rotates counterclockwise asviewed from above. A rotating force is applied to the magnetizationdirections V_(m) of each of the rotor pairs due to the rotation of themagnetic field. The rotating force is a force that urges themagnetization direction V_(m) of the rotor (the ferromagnet layer) to beoriented in the magnetic field direction F_(m) generated by the rotatingforce application unit 24. Accordingly, the direction and the size ofthe rotating force acting on each of the magnetization directions isdifferent due to the relative relationship between the magnetic fielddirection F_(m) and the magnetization direction V_(m); and the directionof the rotating force inverts when the magnetic field direction F_(m)overtakes the magnetization direction V_(m).

The behavior of the rotor pairs can be summarily expressed as follows.

(a) For a rotor pair having a small synthesized component of themagnetization directions, the magnetization direction is substantiallynot affected even when the direction of the magnetic field rotatesbecause the synthesized component is unresponsive to the magnetic field.Therefore, the magnetization direction does not rotate past theminor-axis direction; and the value of the rotor pair does not change.As described above, a rotor pair having a small synthesized component isa rotor pair programmed with the same value as the rotor pairs adjacentabove and below, e.g., the rotor pairs 51 a and 51 d.

(b) For a rotor pair having a large synthesized component of themagnetization directions, the synthesized component rotates because thesynthesized component is sensitive to the magnetic field. Thereby, thereare cases where the magnetic field direction rotates past the minor-axisdirection and the value changes. As described above, a rotor pair havinga large synthesized component is a rotor pair programmed with a valuedifferent from that of an adjacent rotor pair. The behavior of the rotorpair having a large synthesized component can be classified summarilyinto the following two classifications.

(b-1) For a rotor pair positioned on the lower side of the interfacewhere the rotor pairs programmed with mutually different values aremutually adjacent, e.g., the rotor pairs 51 c, 51 f, and 51 h, themagnetization direction V_(mu) of the rotor of the upper side is twistedgreatly. As described above, the weak force acts counterclockwise on themagnetization direction V_(mu) of the rotor of the upper side to twistthe magnetization direction V_(mu) of the rotor of the upper sidecounterclockwise with respect to the major-axis direction because theprogramming of the data is performed by the magnetic field rotatingclockwise. Accordingly, when the magnetic field direction F_(m) rotatescounterclockwise to overtake the synthesized component, themagnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side is overtaken first; andthe magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side is overtakensubsequently. Also, the rotating force acting on the magnetizationdirection V_(mu) inverts from clockwise to counterclockwise when themagnetic field direction F_(m) rotating counterclockwise overtakes themagnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side.

Therefore, when the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side isovertaken by the magnetic field direction F_(m), the weak force causedby the weak anti-coupling action and the rotating force are superimposedto act counterclockwise on the magnetization direction V_(mu) of theupper side; this counterclockwise force overcomes the force caused bythe uniaxial anisotropy and the strong force acting clockwise; and themagnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side crosses over theminor-axis direction. When the magnetization direction V_(mu) of theupper side crosses over the minor-axis direction, the magnetizationdirection V_(mu) of the upper side stabilizes at a direction away fromthe minor-axis direction because the direction of the force caused bythe uniaxial anisotropy acting on the magnetization direction V_(mu) ofthe upper side flips to counterclockwise. As a result, the strong forceacting counterclockwise on the leading magnetization direction V_(ml) ofthe lower side increases. Further, when the magnetization directionV_(ml) of the lower side is overtaken by the magnetic field directionF_(m), the rotating force acting on the magnetization direction V_(ml)of the lower side flips to counterclockwise. Thereby, the magnetizationdirection V_(ml) of the lower side crosses over the minor-axisdirection. Thus, the value of the rotor pair changes.

(b-2) Conversely, for a rotor pair positioned on the upper side of theinterface where the rotor pairs programmed with mutually differentvalues are mutually adjacent, e.g., the rotor pairs 51 b, 51 e, and 51g, the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the rotor of the lower side istwisted greatly clockwise. Therefore, when the magnetic field directionF_(m) rotates counterclockwise to overtake the synthesized component,the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side is overtaken first;and the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side is overtakensubsequently. When the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper sideis overtaken by the magnetic field direction F_(m), although therotating force acts counterclockwise on the magnetization directionV_(mu) of the upper side, the rotating force and the weak force are notsuperimposed because the weak force does not act on the magnetizationdirection V_(mu) of the upper side. Therefore, the magnetizationdirection V_(mu) of the upper side does not cross over the minor-axisdirection; and accordingly, the magnetization direction V_(ml) of thelower side does not cross over the minor-axis direction. As a result,the value of the rotor pair does not change.

In the case of (a) described above, the weak force does not occur.Therefore, it can be said that the superimposition of the weak force onthe rotating force cannot occur and the magnetization direction does notcross over the minor-axis direction.

How each of the rotor pairs changes over time will now be describedspecifically.

(1) The rotor pair 51 a

At time t=0, the value of “0” is programmed to the rotor pair 51 a; andthe same value of “0” is programmed also to the rotor pairs adjacentabove and below. Therefore, in the rotor pair 51 a, the twist of themagnetization direction is small; and the magnetization direction V_(mu)of the rotor of the upper side (the ferromagnet layer 13) issubstantially opposingly parallel to the magnetization direction V_(ml)of the rotor of the lower side (the ferromagnet layer 11) along themajor-axis direction. In other words, the magnetization direction V_(mu)of the upper side is substantially the 3 o'clock direction; and themagnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side is substantially the 9o'clock direction.

In the rotor pair 51 a, the synthesized component of the magnetizationdirections is substantially zero for the entire rotor pair 51 a becausethe magnetization direction V_(mu) and the magnetization directionV_(ml) are substantially opposingly parallel. Also, the strong forcecaused by the strong anti-coupling action, the weak force caused by theweak anti-coupling action, and the force caused by the uniaxialanisotropy all act to stabilize the opposingly parallel state.Therefore, the weak force does not act to urge the magnetizationdirection to cross over the minor-axis direction (the 12 o'clockdirection and the 6 o'clock direction); and the weak force is notsuperimposed on the rotating force even when the rotating force acts tourge the magnetization direction to cross over the minor-axis direction.Accordingly, the magnetization direction does not cross over theminor-axis direction; and the value of “0” remains as-is.

(2) The rotor pair 51 d

For the rotor pair 51 d programmed with the value of “1” as well, thetwist of the magnetization direction is small and the magnetizationdirection V_(mu) of the upper side is substantially opposingly parallelto the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side along themajor-axis direction because the same value of “1” is programmed to therotor pairs thereabove and therebelow. Therefore, the weak force doesnot act to urge the magnetization direction to cross over the minor-axisdirection; and the value of “1” remains as-is.

(3) The rotor pair 51 c

Conversely, as described above, the behavior is different for the rotorpair when the rotor pair adjacent thereabove has a different value.

At time t=0 in the rotor pair 51 c programmed with the value of “1,” themagnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side of the rotor pair 51 cis twisted greatly counterclockwise from the 9 o'clock direction to beoriented in about the 7 o'clock direction due to the weak force actingwith the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side of the rotorpair 51 b adjacent thereabove because the rotor pair 51 b has the valueof “0.” On the other hand, although the weak force does not act on themagnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side of the rotor pair 51 c,the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side of the rotor pair51 c is oriented in about the 2 o'clock direction due to the strongforce acting with the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper sideof the rotor pair 51 c. Therefore, the magnetization direction V_(mu) ofthe upper side of the rotor pair 51 c is not completely opposinglyparallel to the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side; and asynthesized component of the magnetization directions occurs in aboutthe 4 o'clock direction.

At time t=1, a magnetic field is applied to urge the magnetizationdirection to be oriented in the 6 o'clock direction. Thereby, a rotatingforce acts counterclockwise on the magnetization direction V_(mu) of theupper side of the rotor pair 51 c; and the magnetization directionV_(mu) of the upper side of the rotor pair 51 c approaches the 6 o'clockdirection. On the other hand, although a rotating force acts clockwiseon the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side of the rotorpair 51 c, the counterclockwise strong force due to the rotation of themagnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side of the rotor pair 51 cincreases. Therefore, these forces cancel; and the magnetizationdirection V_(ml) of the lower side does not change very much. As aresult, the synthesized component of the magnetization directionsincreases further. At this time, for the magnetization direction V_(mu)of the upper side of the rotor pair 51 c, the rotating force and theweak force act counterclockwise; and the strong force and the forcecaused by the uniaxial anisotropy act clockwise. On the other hand, forthe magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side of the rotor pair51 c, the strong force acts counterclockwise; and the rotating force andthe force caused by the uniaxial anisotropy act clockwise.

At time t=2, a magnetic field is applied to urge the magnetizationdirection to be oriented in the 3 o'clock direction. Thereby, thecounterclockwise rotating force acting on the magnetization directionV_(mu) of the upper side increases further and is superimposed on theweak force; and the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper sidecrosses over the 6 o'clock direction. Once the magnetization directionV_(mu) of the upper side crosses over the 6 o'clock direction, only thestrong force acts clockwise because the force caused by the uniaxialanisotropy acts in a direction reverse to the direction up to that time,i.e., counterclockwise. As a result, the magnetization direction V_(mu)of the upper side stabilizes at about the 5 o'clock direction. On theother hand, for the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side ofthe rotor pair 51 c, the strong force increases because of the rotationof the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side; and themagnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side is pushed back slightlycounterclockwise. As a result, the magnetization direction V_(ml) of thelower side stabilizes at about the 1 o'clock direction. At this time, inthe rotor pair 51 c, the value is no longer “1” because both of themagnetization directions V_(mu) and V_(ml) are oriented on the 3o'clock-direction side.

At time t=3, a magnetic field is applied to urge the magnetizationdirection to be oriented in the 12 o'clock direction. When the directionof the magnetic field overtakes the magnetization direction V_(ml) ofthe lower side, the rotating force acting on the magnetization directionV_(ml) of the lower side flips to counterclockwise. Also, the strongforce acting counterclockwise on the magnetization direction V_(ml) ofthe lower side increases because the magnetization direction V_(mu) ofthe upper side rotates counterclockwise. As a result, the magnetizationdirection V_(ml) of the lower side crosses over the 12 o'clockdirection. Once the magnetization direction crosses over the 12 o'clockdirection, although the rotating force flips to clockwise, the forcecaused by the uniaxial anisotropy flips to counterclockwise; and themagnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side stabilizes at about the11 o'clock direction. Thereby, the value of the rotor pair 51 c becomes“0.”

At time t=4, a magnetic field is applied to urge the magnetizationdirection to be oriented in the 9 o'clock direction. Thereby, therotating force acts counterclockwise on the magnetization directionV_(ml) of the lower side of the rotor pair 51 c; and the magnetizationdirection V_(ml) of the lower side stabilizes at about the 10 o'clockdirection. On the other hand, for the magnetization direction V_(mu) ofthe upper side of the rotor pair 51 c, the rotating force does not actvery much because the direction of the magnetic field is substantiallythe reverse direction. Therefore, the magnetization direction V_(mu) ofthe upper side does not change very much and remains as-is at about the4 o'clock direction. Thereby, in the rotor pair 51 c, the magnetizationdirection V_(mu) of the upper side is substantially opposingly parallelto the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side; and thesynthesized component is reduced. Therefore, even when the magneticfield rotates thereafter, the magnetization direction of the rotor pair51 c is no longer affected very much; and the value does not change.Thus, the value of the rotor pair 51 c is switched from “1” to “0” byone rotation of the magnetic field. The operations of the rotor pair 51h also are similar.

(4) The rotor pair 51 f

At time t=0, the value of “0” is programmed to the rotor pair 51 f andthe value of “1” is programmed to the rotor pair 51 e adjacentthereabove. Therefore, the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upperside of the rotor pair 51 f is twisted greatly counterclockwise from the3 o'clock direction to about the 1 o'clock direction due to the weakforce acting with the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower sideof the rotor pair 51 e. On the other hand, although the weak force doesnot act on the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side of therotor pair 51 f, the strong force acts; and the magnetization directionV_(ml) of the lower side of the rotor pair 51 f is about the 8 o'clockdirection. Therefore, the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upperside of the rotor pair 51 f is not completely opposingly parallel to themagnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side; and a synthesizedcomponent of the magnetization directions occurs.

At time t=1 and time t=2, the rotating force acts in a direction toreduce the synthesized component because the rotating force is orientedtoward the side reverse to the synthesized component of the rotor pair51 f; and the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side and themagnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side do not change verymuch.

At time t=3, a magnetic field is applied to urge the magnetizationdirection to be oriented in the 12 o'clock direction. Thereby, thedirection of the magnetic field overtakes the magnetization directionV_(mu) of the upper side; and a counterclockwise rotating force acts onthe magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side. Also, the weakforce acts on the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side. Onthe other hand, although a clockwise rotating force is applied to themagnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side, the counterclockwisestrong force increases due to the rotation of the magnetizationdirection V_(mu) of the upper side. Therefore, these forces cancel; andthe magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side remains as-is atabout the 8 o'clock direction.

At time t=4, a magnetic field is applied to urge the magnetizationdirection to be oriented in the 9 o'clock direction. As a result, therotating force acting counterclockwise on the magnetization directionV_(mu) of the upper side increases; and the magnetization directionV_(mu) of the upper side crosses over the 12 o'clock direction. Thereby,the direction of the force caused by the uniaxial anisotropy acting onthe magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side inverts tocounterclockwise. As a result, the rotating force and the force causedby the uniaxial anisotropy act counterclockwise on the magnetizationdirection V_(mu) of the upper side of the rotor pair 51 f; the strongforce acts clockwise; and the magnetization direction V_(mu) of theupper side of the rotor pair 51 f stabilizes at about the 11 o'clockdirection. On the other hand, the magnetization direction V_(ml) of thelower side of the rotor pair 51 f is pushed counterclockwise by themagnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side to about the 7 o'clockdirection. As a result, in the rotor pair 51 f, both the magnetizationdirections V_(mu) and V_(ml) are oriented on the 9 o'clock-directionside; and the value is no longer “0.”

At time t=5, a magnetic field is applied to urge the magnetizationdirection to be oriented in the 6 o'clock direction. Thereby, thedirection of the magnetic field overtakes the magnetization directionV_(ml) of the lower side; and a counterclockwise rotating force acts onthe magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side. The rotating forceacts counterclockwise also on the magnetization direction V_(mu) of theupper side; and the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper siderotates counterclockwise. Thereby, the counterclockwise strong forceacting on the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower sideincreases. As a result, the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lowerside rotates counterclockwise to cross over the 6 o'clock direction.Thereby, the force caused by the uniaxial anisotropy actscounterclockwise; and the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lowerside stabilizes at the 5 o'clock direction. As a result, themagnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side is on the 9o'clock-direction side; the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lowerside is on the 3 o'clock-direction side; and therefore the value of therotor pair 51 f becomes “1.”

At time t=6, the magnetic field vanishes. Thereby, the rotating forcevanishes; and although the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lowerside of the rotor pair 51 f rotates slightly counterclockwise, the valueof the rotor pair 51 f does not change. Thus, the value of the rotorpair 51 f is switched from “0” to “1” by one rotation of the magneticfield.

(5) The rotor pair 51 b

At time t=0, the value of “0” is programmed to the rotor pair 51 b. Thevalue of “1” is programmed to the rotor pair 51 c adjacent therebelow.Therefore, the magnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side of therotor pair 51 b is twisted greatly clockwise from the 9 o'clockdirection to about the 11 o'clock direction due to the weak force actingwith the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side of the rotorpair 51 c. On the other hand, although the weak force does not act onthe magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side of the rotor pair51 b, the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side of the rotorpair 51 b twists slightly clockwise from the 3 o'clock direction toabout the 4 o'clock direction accompanying the twist of themagnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side of the rotor pair 51 b.Therefore, the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side of therotor pair 51 b is not completely opposingly parallel to themagnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side; and a synthesizedcomponent of the magnetization directions occurs.

At time t=1, a rotating force acts counterclockwise on the magnetizationdirection V_(ml) of the lower side of the rotor pair 51 b; and themagnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side of the rotor pair 51 bchanges to about the 10 o'clock direction.

At time t=2, a magnetic field is applied in a direction to urge themagnetization direction to be oriented in the 3 o'clock direction; andthe magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side is about the 3o'clock direction. At this time, although the magnetic field directionF_(m) overtakes the magnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side,the weak force is not superimposed on the rotating force and themagnetization direction V_(mu) of the upper side does not change greatlybecause the weak force does not act on the magnetization directionV_(mu) of the upper side.

From time t=3 and thereafter, the weak force no longer acts on themagnetization direction V_(ml) of the lower side as well and themagnetization direction has almost no change because the value of therotor pair 51 c adjacent therebelow is “0.”

Thus, the value of the rotor pair 51 b does not change even when thedirection of the magnetic field rotates. Rotor pairs 51 g and 51 e alsoare similar.

The operations recited above can be summarized as follows. When amagnetic field rotating counterclockwise is applied to the shiftregister 1 programmed with data by a magnetic field rotating clockwise,the values of the rotor pairs (e.g., the rotor pairs 51 a and 51 d)programmed with the same value as the rotor pairs adjacent above andbelow do not change; the values are switched when the rotor pairs (e.g.,the rotor pairs 51 c, 51 f, and 51 h) are positioned on the lower sideof an interface at which the values switch; and the values of the rotorpairs (e.g., the rotor pairs 51 b, 51 e, and 51 g) positioned on theupper side of the interface do not change. Thereby, the data column isshifted one position downward, i.e., toward the program/read element 22.

By a similar principle, when a magnetic field rotating clockwise isapplied to the shift register 1 programmed with data by a magnetic fieldrotating clockwise, the values of the rotor pairs programmed with thesame value as the rotor pairs adjacent above and below do not change;the values of the rotor pairs positioned on the lower side of aninterface at which the values switch also do not change; and the valuesof the rotor pairs positioned on the upper side of the interface areswitched. Thereby, the data column is shifted one position upward, i.e.,in the direction away from the program/read element 22. Thus, the datacolumn can be shifted in the forward and reverse directions. Similarly,when a magnetic field rotating clockwise is applied to a shift registerprogrammed with data by a magnetic field rotating counterclockwise, thedata column is shifted downward, i.e., toward the program/read element22. Conversely, when a magnetic field rotating counterclockwise isapplied, the data column is shifted upward, i.e., in the direction awayfrom the program/read element 22.

By programming the same value to three consecutively-arranged rotorpairs, a distinct discrimination is possible between the rotor pairprogrammed with the same value as the rotor pairs adjacent above andbelow, between the rotor pair positioned on the upper side of theinterface, and between the rotor pair positioned on the lower side ofthe interface; and the shift operations described above can beimplemented reliably.

Effects of this embodiment will now be described.

The program/read element 22 and the storage unit 23 are providedseparately in the shift register memory device 21 according to thisembodiment. Thereby, in the storage unit 23, the storage elements, i.e.,the rotor pairs, can be integrated with high density. As a result, thestorage capacity per unit surface area can be increased; and the costper bit can be reduced. In particular, in this embodiment, the storageelements can be arranged three-dimensionally because the multiple shiftregisters 1 are arranged in a matrix configuration; and the effect ofincreasing the bit density of the storage elements is particularlylarge.

In this embodiment, a rotating magnetic field can be applied uniformlyto the entire shift register 1 by providing current to the interconnects25 a and 25 b of the rotating force application unit 24. As a result,the data column programmed to the shift register 1 can be synchronouslyshifted accurately. Therefore, the shift register memory device 21according to this embodiment has high reliability when shifting thedata. In particular, magnetic fields are more transmissive than electricfields; and magnetic fields are not easily shielded. Therefore, thefluctuation of the magnetic field by location is small and stableoperations can be realized even when the magnetic field is applied tothe entire array made of the multiple shift registers arranged in amatrix configuration.

It is also conceivable to use a method that provides a pulse current tothe shift register itself to push the data out. However, in such a case,when increasing the physical length of the shift register to increasethe capacity of the shift register, the parasitic capacitance and theparasitic inductance of the shift register also increase. Therefore, thewaveform of the pulse current becomes unresponsive; and the possibilityof misoperations undesirably increases. Conversely, this embodiment doesnot use a statistical phenomenon as the principle of the shift operationand uses a transition that seeks points at which the free energy is aminimum. Therefore, a shift register having few mis-shifts and highreliability can be realized even in the case where the shift register islengthened such that the number of positions is, for example, severalkilo-positions.

Further, the reliability is high for the repeated operations ofprogramming and reading in the shift register memory device according tothis embodiment because there are no mechanically operating portions.

According to this embodiment, the shift register 1 can be easilyconstructed by alternately stacking an iron-nickel alloy layer and aruthenium layer. The rotating force can be easily applied to the rotorsof the shift register 1 by providing the two interconnects 25 a and 25 band providing current to these interconnects.

Although an example is illustrated in this embodiment in which therotating force application unit 24 is disposed above the storage unit23, i.e., on the side opposite to the program/read element 22, theinvention is not limited thereto. The rotating force application unit 24may be disposed below the storage unit 23. Further, althoughnot-illustrated, as a method of applying the rotating force moreeffectively with a small current, it is also possible to use a structurein which the interconnect 25 a and the interconnect 25 b are provided inthe lower portion of the shift register column and the top and bottom ofthe shift register column are enclosed with a helical configuration asin a solenoid coil. Thereby, it is possible to shift the data with asmaller current; and low-power operations of the shift register memorydevice are possible. The interconnects 25 a and 25 b of the rotatingforce application unit 24 may have yoke structures. One rotating forceapplication unit may be provided for one shift register 1 instead ofproviding one rotating force application unit 24 for the entire storageunit 23.

Although an example is illustrated in this embodiment in which differentstrengths of the anti-coupling action are provided by using two levelsof the thickness of the ruthenium layer, the invention is not limitedthereto. For example, a layer made of a material other than rutheniummay be provided instead of the thick ruthenium layer 14. In such a case,the thickness of the layer may be the same as that of the thin rutheniumlayer 12. Further, although an example is illustrated in this embodimentin which the ruthenium layer is provided between the ferromagnet layers,the invention is not limited thereto. For example, a rhenium layer maybe provided instead of the ruthenium layer.

Furthermore, although an example is illustrated in this embodiment inwhich data are programmed to the shift register by controlling therotate with a current magnetic field, data may be programmed to theshift register by controlling the rotate with a spin torque transfer. Afirst variation of this embodiment will now be described.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a shift register memorydevice according to this variation.

In the shift register memory device 61 according to this variation asillustrated in FIG. 8, at least two shift registers 1 a and 1 b areprovided in the storage unit 23; and at least two program/read units 49a and 49 b are provided in the program/read element 22. The lower end ofthe shift register 1 a is connected to the lowermost-end ferromagnetlayer 42 of the program/read unit 49 a; and the lower end of the shiftregister 1 b is connected to the lowermost-end ferromagnet layer 42 ofthe program/read unit 49 b. A control circuit 62 is provided andconnected to the program word line 31, the bit line 32, the source line45, and the read-out word line 46. The configurations of the shiftregisters 1 a and 1 b and the program/read units 49 a and 49 b aresimilar to the respective configurations of the shift register 1 and theprogram/read unit 49 of the first embodiment described above. Thus, inthis variation, the lower ends of the pair of shift registers areconnected to each other to realize a pseudo U-shaped shift register.

In the shift register memory device 61 according to this variation, thecontrol circuit 62 drives the program/read unit 49 a to read the datacolumn programmed to the shift register 1 a and drives the program/readunit 49 b to program the data column to the shift register 1 b. Theprogram/read units 49 a and 49 b program data to the shift registers 1 aand 1 b using magnetic fields rotating in mutually reverse directions.Thereby, when the same rotating magnetic field is applied by therotating force application unit 24 (referring to FIG. 2), the datacolumns are shifted downward in the shift register 1 a and upward in theshift register 1 b.

When the data column programmed to the shift register 1 a is read bybeing shifted to the position of the program/read unit 49 a, the datacolumn is undesirably erased from the shift register 1 a. Therefore, anexternal buffer memory is necessary to temporarily store the datacolumn. Therefore, in this variation, the data column read from theshift register 1 a is programmed to the shift register 1 b. Thereby, thebuffer memory for storing the data column is unnecessary. Therefore, thecircuit surface area can be reduced; and the cost of the shift registermemory device 61 can be reduced. Otherwise, the configuration,operations, and effects of this variation are similar to those of thefirst embodiment described above.

A second variation of this embodiment will now be described.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the shift register memorydevice according to this variation.

In the shift register memory device 63 according to this variation asillustrated in FIG. 9, a ferromagnet layer 64 is provided in connectionwith both of the thin ruthenium layer 12 of the uppermost layer of theshift register 1 a and the thin ruthenium layer 12 of the uppermostlayer of the shift register 1 b in addition to the configuration of theshift register memory device 61 according to the first variationdescribed above (referring to FIG. 8).

According to this variation, the rotor pairs of the uppermost layers ofthe shift registers 1 a and 1 b can be linked by the shift registers 1 aand 1 b sharing the ferromagnet layer 64 as the rotors of the uppermostlayers. Thereby, the data shifted upward through the shift register 1 bto reach the rotor pair of the uppermost portion is reproduced in therotor pair of the uppermost portion of the shift register 1 a and isshifted downward through the shift register 1 a. Thereby, the two shiftregisters 1 a and 1 b can be used by being connected in a pseudo-loopconfiguration.

In the first variation described above, only one shift register of datacan be programmed to the two shift registers to ensure space for movingthe data column. Conversely, according to this variation, two shiftregisters of data can be programmed to the two shift registers becausethe data reaching the upper end of the shift register 1 b can be movedin open space created in the upper portion of the shift register 1 a. Asa result, the effective storage capacity can be increased. Further, whenaccessing the desired data, the time to access the data can be reducedbecause the data column can be shifted in the more proximal direction ofthe forward and reverse directions; and even faster operations arepossible. Otherwise, the configuration, operations, and effects of thisvariation are similar to those of the first variation described above.

A third variation of this embodiment will now be described.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a shift register memorydevice according to this variation.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the shift register memory device 65 accordingto this variation differs from the shift register memory device 61(referring to FIG. 8) according to the first variation described abovein that a shift register 1 c having a U-shaped configuration is providedinstead of the shift registers 1 a and 1 b (referring to FIG. 8). Also,an interconnect 25 c having a U-shaped configuration conforming to theshift register 1 c is provided instead of the interconnect 25 a(referring to FIG. 8). The end portions of the shift register 1 c areconnected to the program/read units 49 a and 49 b respectively.According to this variation as well, similarly to the second variationdescribed above, the effective storage capacity can be increased byconnecting the shift register in a pseudo-loop configuration. Otherwise,the configuration, operations, and effects of this variation are similarto those of the first variation described above.

A second embodiment of the invention will now be described.

FIG. 11 illustrates a shift register according to this embodiment.

This embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above inthat the shift register includes a polymer in which polar molecules arepolymerized in a straight chain configuration instead of the stackedbody of the ferromagnet layers, the rotor is a polar molecule instead ofthe ferromagnet layer, the rotatable characteristic direction is a polardirection of the polar molecule instead of the magnetization directionof the ferromagnet layer, the anti-coupling action occurs due to anelectric force (a Coulomb force) instead of the magnetic force, and therotating force occurs due to the rotation of an electric field insteadof the magnetic field.

A specific example will now be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the shift register 2 according to thisembodiment includes a nitrobenzene polymer. In the nitrobenzene polymer,numerous nitrobenzene molecules 71 are polymerized in a straight chainconfiguration along one direction (hereinbelow referred to as the“polymerization direction”). In each of the nitrobenzene molecules, onenitro group (a —NO₂ group) 73 is bonded to one benzene ring 72. In thenitrobenzene polymer, a nitrobenzene molecule 71 in which the nitrogroup 73 is bonded on one polymerization-direction side (referred to asthe “lower side” for convenience) is arranged alternately with anitrobenzene molecule 71 in which the nitro group 73 is bonded on oneother polymerization-direction side (referred to as the “upper side” forconvenience). The benzene rings 72 are rotatably bonded to each other bypi bonds. Accordingly, each of the nitrobenzene molecules 71 isrotatable with respect to the nitrobenzene molecules 71 thereabove andtherebelow with an axis extending in the polymerization direction as therotational axis.

Because the benzene ring 72 is an electron donating group and the nitrogroup 73 is an electron withdrawing group, the nitrobenzene molecule 71is a polar molecule and is a monomer having a dipole moment. In theshift register 2, the nitrobenzene molecule 71 which is a polar moleculeis taken to be the rotor; and a polar direction V_(p) from the positivepole of the nitrobenzene molecule 71, i.e., the benzene ring 72, towardthe negative pole, i.e., the nitro group 73, is taken to be thecharacteristic direction of each of the rotors (the nitrobenzenemolecules). In other words, the nitrobenzene molecule 71 which is therotor is arranged along the polymerization direction; and thecharacteristic direction (the polar direction V_(p)) thereof rotates dueto the nitrobenzene molecule 71 being rotated.

The crystal structure of the nitrobenzene polymer included in the shiftregister 2 is oriented. Thereby, the nitrobenzene molecule 71 includedin each of the rotors is provided with uniaxial anisotropy. The crystalstructure of the nitrobenzene polymer can be oriented by, for example,bundling the multiple nitrobenzene polymers and performing annealingunder an electric field when manufacturing the shift register. As aresult, the polar direction V_(p) of the nitrobenzene molecule 71 iseasily oriented in one selected from two mutually opposite directionsorthogonal to the polymerization direction. Hereinbelow, these twodirections are referred to as the “major-axis directions” forconvenience. The direction orthogonal to both the polymerizationdirection and the major-axis direction is referred to as the “minor-axisdirection.” Thus, in each of the nitrobenzene molecules, the uniaxialanisotropy acts to urge the polar direction to be oriented in oneselected from the major-axis directions; and a force caused by theuniaxial anisotropy acts.

Because the nitro group 73 is negatively charged, a Coulomb force (arepulsion force) acts between the mutually adjacent nitrobenzenemolecules 71 to urge the nitro groups 73 to separate from each other. Inthe nitrobenzene polymer included in the shift register 2, the distancebetween the nitro groups 73 is not constant because the nitrobenzenemolecule 71 in which the nitro group 73 is bonded on the lower side ofthe benzene ring 72 is arranged alternately with the nitrobenzenemolecule 71 in which the nitro group 73 is bonded on the upper side ofthe benzene ring 72. As a result, this repulsion force is classifiedinto two types.

A strong anti-coupling action that urges the polar directions to beopposingly parallel occurs between the nitrobenzene molecules 71 havingmutually proximal nitro groups 73, that is, between two nitrobenzenemolecules 71 of a pair made of two mutually adjacent nitrobenzenemolecules 71 in which the molecule having the nitro group 73 bonded onthe lower side of the benzene ring 72 is disposed above and the moleculehaving the nitro group 73 bonded on the upper side of the benzene ring72 is disposed below. As a result, a strong force (a first force) actsbetween the nitrobenzene molecules 71 to urge the polar directions to beopposingly parallel. Thereby, the multiple nitrobenzene moleculesbelonging to the shift register 2 are organized into multiple rotorpairs 74 of every two adjacent nitrobenzene molecules having mutuallyproximal nitro groups.

On the other hand, a weak anti-coupling action that urges the polardirections to be opposingly parallel occurs between the nitrobenzenemolecules 71 having mutually distal nitro groups 73, that is, betweentwo nitrobenzene molecules 71 of a pair made of two mutually adjacentnitrobenzene molecules 71 in which the molecule having the nitro group73 bonded on the lower side of the benzene ring 72 is disposed below andthe molecule having the nitro group 73 bonded on the upper side of thebenzene ring 72 is disposed above. As a result, a weak force (a secondforce) urging the polar directions to be opposingly parallel acts on thetwo mutually adjacent nitrobenzene molecules 71 (rotors) belonging tothe mutually adjacent rotor pairs 74. The distance between the centroidsof the two mutually adjacent nitrobenzene molecules 71 belonging to themutually adjacent rotor pairs 74 is greater than the distance betweenthe centroids of the two nitrobenzene molecules 71 belonging to the samerotor pair 74; and the distance between the nitro groups 73 of theformer is less than the distance between the nitro groups 73 of thelatter. Therefore, the strong force described above (the first force) isstronger than the weak force (the second force).

Thus, in this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment describedabove, the uniaxial anisotropy, the strong anti-coupling action, and theweak anti-coupling action affect each of the rotors (the nitrobenzenemolecules); and the force caused by the uniaxial anisotropy, the strongforce, and the weak force act on each of the rotors. In addition to suchinternal forces, external forces may be applied to each of the rotorsfrom outside the shift register 2. Similarly to the first embodimentdescribed above, the external forces may include a rotating force tourge the characteristic direction (the polar direction) to rotate and aforce for programming the data. However, this embodiment differs fromthe first embodiment in that such external forces are applied by causingan electric field to rotate instead of a magnetic field. These aredescribed below.

It is preferred that an intensity of the “weak force” (the second force)is about 0.9 times of an intensity of the “strong force” (the firstforce). This makes a margin expand in the shift action mentioned later.And even when the intensity of a rotation electric field varies, theshift action can be stabilized.

A shift register memory device according to this embodiment will now bedescribed.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the shift register memorydevice according to this embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the program/read element ofthe shift register memory device according to this embodiment.

To simplify FIG. 13, the monomer of polar nitrobenzene is schematicallyillustrated as an electric dipole in which a white ball and a black ballhaving positive and negative charges are linked together. This issimilar for FIG. 14 described below.

In the shift register memory device 81 according to this embodiment asillustrated in FIG. 12, a program/read element 82 is provided; and astorage unit 83 and a rotating force application unit 84 are providedthereon.

In the storage unit 83, the shift register 2 described above is multiplyprovided and arranged in a matrix configuration. Each of the shiftregisters 2 extends in the vertical direction. In other words, thepolymerization direction of the shift register 2 matches the verticaldirection of the shift register memory device 81. The major-axisdirections of the shift registers 2 match each other. Although the shiftregisters 2 are isolated from each other, the lower end of each of theshift registers 2 is connected to the program/read element 82.

The rotating force application unit 84 includes two pairs of electrodeplates 85 a and 85 b disposed on sides of the storage unit 83. In FIG.12, one of the electrode plates 85 b is not illustrated. The pair ofelectrode plates 85 a is disposed on the two major-axis-direction sidesas viewed from storage unit 83 to oppose each other with the storageunit 83 interposed therebetween. The pair of electrode plates 85 b isdisposed on two minor-axis-direction sides as viewed from the storageunit 83 to oppose each other with the storage unit 83 interposedtherebetween. The rotating force application unit 84 is commonlyprovided for the multiple shift registers 2 belonging to the storageunit 83.

In the program/read element 82 as illustrated in FIG. 13, two pairs ofcontrol electrodes 86 a and 86 b are provided for every shift register2. The pair of control electrodes 86 a is disposed on twomajor-axis-direction sides as viewed from shift register 2. The otherpair of control electrodes 86 b is disposed on two minor-axis-directionsides as viewed from the shift register 2. A rotating dipole 87 isbonded to the lower end of the shift register 2. The rotating dipole 87is, for example, a polar molecule having a molecular radius greater thanthe molecular radius of the nitrobenzene molecule 71. The polardirection of the rotating dipole 87 is fixed with respect to the polardirection of the nitrobenzene molecule 71 included in the lowermostportion of the shift register 2.

Operations of the shift register memory device 81 according to thisembodiment formed as described above, that is, a method for using theshift register 2 according to this embodiment, that is, a data storagemethod according to this embodiment, will now be described.

FIG. 14 illustrates the data shift method of this embodiment.

In the nitrobenzene polymer included in the shift register 2 asdescribed above, the nitrobenzene molecules 71 are arranged in onecolumn along the polymerization direction as the rotors; and each of thenitrobenzene molecules 71 is rotatable with an axis extending in thepolymerization direction as the rotational axis. Similarly to the firstembodiment described above, the force caused by the uniaxial anisotropy,the strong force, and the weak force act on each of the rotors.Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment (referring to FIGS. 4A and4B) described above, each of the rotor pairs 74 can have two states in astatic state in which external forces are not applied. That is, each ofthe rotor pairs 74 can have a first state, in which the polar directionof the rotor of the upper side, i.e., the nitrobenzene molecule in whichthe nitro group is bonded on the lower side of the benzene ring, is onthe 3 o'clock-direction side and the polar direction of the rotor of thelower side, i.e., the nitrobenzene molecule in which the nitro group isbonded on the upper side of the benzene ring, is on the 9o'clock-direction side, and a second state, in which the polar directionof the rotor of the upper side is on the 9 o'clock-direction side andthe polar direction of the rotor of the lower side is on the 3o'clock-direction side. Thereby, the two values of “0” and “1” arestorable in each of the rotor pairs 74.

Similarly to the first embodiment described above, in the case wheredifferent values are programmed to mutually adjacent rotor pairs,“twisting” occurs in the polar directions of the two mutually adjacentrotors belonging to the mutually adjacent rotor pairs respectively. Inother words, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, in the case where the same valueis stored in the two mutually adjacent rotor pairs, the polar directionof each of the rotors is substantially the 3 o'clock direction orsubstantially the 9 o'clock direction and the synthesized componentthereof is substantially zero to satisfy all of the urgings of theuniaxial anisotropy, the strong anti-coupling action, and the weakanti-coupling action. On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, inthe case where different values are stored in the two mutually adjacentrotor pairs, the urging of the weak anti-coupling action is no longersatisfied because the polar directions of the two mutually adjacentrotors belonging to the two mutually adjacent rotor pairs are on thesame side. In such a case, the polar directions stabilize at directionsfor which the forces balance and the energy is a minimum. In otherwords, the polar directions of the two mutually adjacent rotorsbelonging to the two mutually adjacent rotor pairs are on the same sidebut are oriented in directions slightly twisted away from each other.Thereby, a synthesized component of the polar directions occurs for therotor pairs as an entirety.

The data programming method will now be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, a Coulomb force is caused to act on therotating dipole 87 by applying a voltage between the control electrodes86 a and between the control electrodes 86 b of the program/read element82; and the polar direction of the rotating dipole 87 is set to the 3o'clock direction or the 9 o'clock direction. Thereby, the polardirection of the nitrobenzene molecule 71 of the lowermost level of theshift register 2 is set to the same direction as that of the rotatingdipole 87. When the polar direction of the nitrobenzene molecule 71 ofthe lowermost level is set, the polar direction of the nitrobenzenemolecule 71 of one level thereabove is set to a direction reverse to thepolar direction of the nitrobenzene molecule 71 of the lowermost end.Thereby, data is programmed to the rotor pair 74 of the lowermost level.

Then, a data column is programmed to the shift register 2 by alternatelyrepeating programming the data to the rotor pair 74 of the lowermostlevel and shifting the data upward. At this time, the direction of theelectric field applied to the rotating dipole 87 to program the data isrotated in a constant rotation direction, e.g., a rotation directionwhich is clockwise as viewed from above, to a prescribed direction.Thereby, in the two mutually adjacent rotors belonging to the mutuallyadjacent rotor pairs 74, the polar direction of the previously-set rotoris pushed clockwise by the subsequently-set rotor. As a result, thepolar direction of the rotor of the lower side of the rotor pair 74 ofthe upper side twists clockwise and the polar direction of the rotor ofthe upper side of the rotor pair 74 of the lower side twistscounterclockwise with the major-axis direction as a reference. At thistime, the same value is then programmed to at least threeconsecutively-arranged rotor pairs. For example, one bit of data isstored using the three consecutively-arranged rotor pairs.

The data read-out method will now be described.

When the polar direction of the nitrobenzene molecule 71 of thelowermost level of the shift register 2 is oriented in some direction,the polar direction of the rotating dipole 87 also is oriented in thesame direction. Thereby, a prescribed charge is induced in the controlelectrodes 86 a and 86 b. Therefore, the polar direction of thenitrobenzene molecule 71 of the lowermost level can be detected bymeasuring the potential or the amount of charge of the controlelectrodes 86 a and 86 b; and the data programmed to the rotor pair 74of the lowermost level can be read. Then, by alternately repeating thereading of the data from the rotor pair 74 of the lowermost level andthe shifting of the data downward, the data column is read from theshift register 2.

The data shift method will now be described.

FIG. 14 illustrates simulation results of how one shift register changesover time. In FIG. 14, one rotor (the nitrobenzene molecule 71) isillustrated as one ellipse; and one rotor pair 74 is illustrated as twoellipses contacting each other. Similarly to FIG. 13, the monomer ofpolar nitrobenzene is schematically illustrated as an electric dipole inwhich a white ball and a black ball having positive and negative chargesare linked together.

In this embodiment, an electric field rotating with respect to thestorage unit 83 is applied by applying a voltage that changesdynamically between the electrode plates 85 a and between the electrodeplates 85 b of the rotating force application unit 84. A rotating forceis applied to each of the rotors by the rotating electric field actingon each of the rotors (the polar molecules) of each of the shiftregisters 2. As a result, the data column can be shifted upward ordownward by a principle similar to that of the first embodimentdescribed above.

In other words, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the data column can be movedone position downward by one clockwise rotation of the electric fielddirection F_(e). The data column can be moved one position upward by onecounterclockwise rotation of the electric field direction F_(e). Thisutilizes the fact that the “twist” described above exists and the rotorpair, in which the dipole moments of the two rotors do not cancel eachother, reacts particularly sensitively to an electric field.

According to this embodiment, a shift register operating by a principlesimilar to that of the first embodiment described above can be realizedby the shift register including a rotor due to a rotating dipole due toa polar monomer such as a nitrobenzene molecule. In this embodiment, ashift register memory having a higher number of positions can berealized with a fewer number of processes by utilizing the structure ofa polymer as the rotor. A stable data retention characteristic withrespect to quantum-mechanical fluctuations such as thermal agitation isprovided because the information is maintained by the rotation of amolecule (the monomer) having an actual mass. Otherwise, theconfiguration, operations, and effects of this embodiment are similar tothose of the first embodiment described above.

Although an example is illustrated in this embodiment in which anitrobenzene polymer, in which a nitro group used as an electronwithdrawing group is bonded to a benzene ring used as an electrondonating group, is used as the shift register, the invention is notlimited thereto. In addition to the nitro group, for example, a cyanogroup, a tosyl group, a mesyl group, a phenyl group, an acyl group, ahalogen, etc., can be used as the electron withdrawing group. The shiftregister may include a polymer having a straight chain configurationincluding an electron donating group and may include a polymer having astraight chain configuration including both an electron donating groupand an electron withdrawing group. For example, a methoxy group, anamino group, a methylamino group, a methyl group, etc., can be used asthe electron donating group. Further, it is not always necessary for thepolymer to include a benzene ring.

Although an example is illustrated in the shift register according tothis embodiment in which the distances between the nitro groups have twolevels and the anti-coupling actions have two levels of strength, i.e.,the strong anti-coupling action and the weak anti-coupling action,because the nitrobenzene molecule in which the nitro group is bonded onthe lower side of the benzene ring is arranged alternately with thenitrobenzene molecule in which the nitro group is bonded on the upperside of the benzene ring, the invention is not limited thereto. Forexample, even in the case where the electron withdrawing group or theelectron donating group is positioned at the center of the rotor,different strengths of the anti-coupling action can be provided as longas the straight chain is formed such that the distance between therotors is asymmetrical.

Further, although an example is illustrated in this embodiment in whichthe electric field is applied collectively by the two pairs of electrodeplates 85 a and 85 b to all of the multiple shift registers 2 belongingto the storage unit 83, the invention is not limited thereto. Astructure may be used in which electrode plates are provided for everyblock having one shift register or multiple bundled and crystallizedshift registers to enclose the block as if with a sheath. Thereby, theelectric field can be applied reliably to each of the shift registers.

This embodiment also can realize variations similar to the first tothird variations of the first embodiment described above.

The superordinate concepts of the first and second embodiments describedabove can be described as follows.

The shift register includes multiple rotors arranged along onedirection. Each of the rotors has a characteristic direction rotatablearound a rotational axis extending in the one direction. Uniaxialanisotropy is provided to the rotors; and the rotors have a tendency tobe oriented in either of one direction (the major-axis direction)orthogonal to the one direction. The rotors are organized into multiplerotor pairs of every two mutually adjacent rotors; a strong force (afirst force) acts to urge the characteristic directions to be opposinglyparallel for the two rotors belonging to the same rotor pair; and a weakforce (a second force) acts to urge the characteristic directions to beopposingly parallel for the two mutually adjacent rotors belonging tothe mutually adjacent rotor pairs.

In addition to the shift register described above, the shift registermemory device includes a program/read element and a rotating forceapplication unit. The program/read element programs data to the shiftregister by rotating the characteristic direction of the rotor disposedin the one end portion of the shift register, for example, clockwise tocause the characteristic direction to match one selected from twodirections conforming to the uniaxial anisotropy. The program/readelement reads the data by detecting the characteristic direction of therotor disposed in the one end portion. The rotating force applicationunit shifts the data column in a direction away from the one end portionby applying a rotating force to the shift register to urge thecharacteristic direction to rotate clockwise. The data column is shiftedin the direction toward the one end portion by the rotating force beingapplied to the shift register to urge the characteristic direction torotate counterclockwise.

An example is illustrated in the first embodiment described above inwhich the rotor is taken to be a ferromagnet layer, the characteristicdirection is taken to be a magnetization direction of the ferromagnetlayer, and the rotating force is taken to occur by a magnetic fieldbeing rotated; and an example is illustrated in the second embodimentdescribed above in which the rotor is taken to be a polar molecule, thecharacteristic direction is taken to be a direction from the positivepole of the polar molecule toward the negative pole, and the rotatingforce is taken to occur by an electric field being rotated. However, theinvention is not limited thereto. For example, the rotor may be a microobject in which the rotor itself mechanically rotates; and thecharacteristic direction may be a longitudinal direction of the microobject. Or, the rotor may be mechanically fixed; and an anisotropy of aproperty thereof may be rotated.

Although an example is illustrated in the first and second embodimentsdescribed above in which each of the shift registers singularly storesthe prescribed data column, the invention is not limited thereto.Multiple, and desirably three or more, shift registers may be bundledand used; and these multiple shift registers may store the same datacolumn. Thereby, redundancy can be provided to the shift register memorydevice to increase the reliability.

Although an example is illustrated in the first and second embodimentsdescribed above in which three positions are used as one bit, theinvention is not limited thereto. For example, it is also possible torepresent information using the number of consecutive positions havingthe same value. For example, the case of 3 consecutive positions havingthe same value may be taken as the value of “00,” the case of 4consecutive positions having the same value may be taken as the value of“01,” the case of 5 consecutive positions having the same value may betaken as the value of “10,” and the case of 6 consecutive positionshaving the same value may be taken as the value of “11.”

Although an example is illustrated in the first and second embodimentsdescribed above in which the rotor pair made of the two rotors operatesas the basic unit, three or more rotors may operate as the basic unit.

Although an example is illustrated in the first and second embodimentsdescribed above in which “weak force” (the second force) is weaker thanthe “strong force” (the first force), the invention is not limitedthereto, the intensity of the second force may be equal to the intensityof the first force. As mentioned above, when the second force is weakerthan the first force, the shift action can be stabilized. Therefore,from a point of stability of operation, it is preferred that theintensity of the second force is weaker than the intensity of the firstforce, more preferred that the intensity of the second force is about0.9 times of the intensity of the first force.

Although, when the second force is equal to the first force, thestructure of a shift register can be simplified. For example, in thefirst embodiment, thickness of the ruthenium layer 12 and thickness ofthe ruthenium layer 14 can be made equal. Moreover, in the secondembodiment, the molecule of simple structure, that is the polarmolecules whose bonding position of a polar group are same, are arrangedlike a straight chain can be used as a shift register, rather than notthe polymer by which the polar molecule which is two kinds of polarmolecules whose bonding position of a polar group differs are arrangedalternately. Therefore, in order to simplify the structure of a shiftregister, it is preferred that the intensity of the second force isequal to the intensity of the first force.

According to the embodiments of the invention described above, a shiftregister, a shift register memory device, and a data storage methodhaving high reliability can be realized.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modification as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shift register memory device, comprising: ashift register including a plurality of rotors arranged along onedirection and provided with an uniaxial anisotropy, each of theplurality of rotors having a characteristic direction rotatable around arotational axis extending in the one direction; a program/read elementconfigured to program data to the shift register by causing thecharacteristic direction of one of the rotors to match one selected fromtwo directions conforming to the uniaxial anisotropy and configured toread the data by detecting the characteristic direction; and a rotatingforce application unit configured to apply a rotating force to the shiftregister to urge the characteristic direction to rotate, the pluralityof rotors being organized into a plurality of pairs of every twomutually adjacent rotors, a first coupling acting to urge thecharacteristic directions to be opposingly parallel for two of therotors belonging to the same pair, a second coupling acting to urge thecharacteristic directions to be opposingly parallel for two mutuallyadjacent rotors belonging to mutually adjacent pairs, the secondcoupling being weaker than the first coupling.
 2. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein the program/read element causes the characteristicdirection of the one of the rotors to match the one selected from twodirections conforming to the uniaxial anisotropy by rotating thecharacteristic direction of the one of the rotors in one rotationdirection, and the rotating force application unit shifts the data in adirection away from the one of the rotors by applying a rotating forceto the plurality of rotors to urge the characteristic direction torotate in the one rotation direction and shifts the data in a directiontoward the one of the rotors by applying a rotating force to theplurality of rotors to urge the characteristic direction to rotate in adirection reverse to the one rotation direction.
 3. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein: the rotor is made of a ferromagnet; thecharacteristic direction is a magnetization direction of theferromagnet; and the rotating force application unit is configured torotate a magnetic field.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein:the rotor is a polar molecule; the characteristic direction is adirection from one pole of the polar molecule toward one other pole ofthe polar molecule; and the rotating force application unit isconfigured to rotate an electric field.
 5. The device according to claim1, wherein: a plurality of the shift registers is provided; theplurality of shift registers is arranged mutually parallel in a matrixconfiguration; a direction of the uniaxial anisotropy is the same foreach of the shift registers; and the rotating force application unit isprovided commonly for the plurality of shift registers.
 6. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein at least two of the shift registers areprovided, and data is programmed to one other of the shift registersbased on data read from one of the shift registers.
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein: the program/read element includes twounits; one of the units detects the characteristic direction of the oneof the rotors of the one of the shift registers; and one other of theunits controls the characteristic direction of the one of the rotors ofthe one other of the shift registers based on a detection result of theone of the units.
 8. The device according to claim 6, wherein thecharacteristic direction of one other of the rotors of the one of theshift registers is linked to the characteristic direction of one otherof the rotors of the one other of the shift registers.
 9. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the one of the rotors is positioned in oneend portion of the shift register.
 10. A shift register, comprising aplurality of rotors arranged along one direction, each of the pluralityof rotors having a characteristic direction rotatable around arotational axis extending in the one direction, the plurality of rotorsbeing provided with an uniaxial anisotropy, the plurality of rotorsbeing organized into a plurality of pairs of every two mutually adjacentrotors, a first coupling acting to urge the characteristic directions tobe opposingly parallel for two of the rotors belonging to the same pair,a second coupling acting to urge the characteristic directions to beopposingly parallel for two mutually adjacent rotors belonging tomutually adjacent pairs, the second coupling being weaker than the firstcoupling.
 11. The shift register according to claim 10, wherein: data isprogrammed by the characteristic direction of one of the rotors beingrotated in one rotation direction to a prescribed direction; the data isread by the characteristic direction of the one of the rotors beingdetected; the data is shifted in a direction away from the one of therotors by applying a rotating force to the plurality of rotors to urgethe characteristic direction to rotate in the one rotation direction;and the data is shifted in a direction toward the one of the rotors byapplying a rotating force to the plurality of rotors to urge thecharacteristic direction to rotate in a direction reverse to the onerotation direction.
 12. The shift register according to claim 10wherein: the rotor is a ferromagnet layer; the characteristic directionis a magnetization direction of the ferromagnet layer; and the rotatingforce occurs by causing a magnetic field to rotate.
 13. The shiftregister according to claim 12, wherein a distance between two mutuallyadjacent ferromagnet layers belonging to mutually adjacent pairs isgreater than a distance between two of the ferromagnet layers belongingto the same pair.
 14. The shift register according to claim 12, furthercomprising a ruthenium layer or a rhenium layer disposed between theferromagnet layers.
 15. The shift register according to claim 10,wherein: the rotor is a polar molecule; the characteristic direction isa direction from one pole of the polar molecule toward one other pole ofthe polar molecule; and the rotating force occurs by causing an electricfield to rotate.
 16. The shift register according to claim 15, wherein adistance between centroids of two mutually adjacent polar moleculesbelonging to mutually adjacent pairs is greater than a distance betweencentroids of two of the polar molecules belonging to the same pair. 17.The shift register according to claim 15, wherein the polar molecule isa polymer polymerized in a straight chain configuration.
 18. A datastorage method, comprising: programming data in a shift registerincluding a plurality of rotors arranged along one direction andprovided with an uniaxial anisotropy, each of the plurality of rotorshaving a characteristic direction rotatable around a rotational axisextending in the one direction, the plurality of rotors being organizedinto a plurality of pairs of every two mutually adjacent rotors, a firstcoupling acting to urge the characteristic directions to be opposinglyparallel for two of the rotors belonging to the same pair, a secondcoupling acting to urge the characteristic directions to be opposinglyparallel for two mutually adjacent rotors belonging to mutually adjacentpairs, the second coupling being weaker than the first coupling, thedata being programmed to the pair including one of the rotors of theshift register by causing the characteristic direction of the one of therotors to match one selected from two directions conforming to theuniaxial anisotropy by rotating the characteristic direction of the oneof the rotors in one rotation direction; shifting data in a directionaway from the one of the rotors by applying a rotating force to theshift register to urge the characteristic direction to rotate in the onerotation direction; shifting data in a direction toward the one of therotors by applying a rotating force to the shift register to urge thecharacteristic direction to rotate in a direction reverse to the onerotation direction; and reading the data programmed to the pairincluding the one of the rotors by detecting the characteristicdirection of the one of the rotors.
 19. The method according to claim18, wherein: the rotor is a ferromagnet layer; the characteristicdirection is a magnetization direction of the ferromagnet layer; and therotating force is applied by causing a magnetic field to rotate.
 20. Themethod according to claim 18, wherein: the rotor is a polar molecule;the characteristic direction is a direction from a positive pole of thepolar molecule toward a negative pole of the polar molecule; and therotating force is applied by causing an electric field to rotate.
 21. Ashift register memory device, comprising: a shift register including aplurality of rotors arranged along one direction and provided with anuniaxial anisotropy, each of the plurality of rotors having acharacteristic direction rotatable around a rotational axis extending inthe one direction; a program/read element configured to program data tothe shift register by causing the characteristic direction of one of therotors to match one selected from two directions conforming to theuniaxial anisotropy and configured to read the data by detecting thecharacteristic direction; and a rotating force application unitconfigured to apply a rotating force to the shift register to urge thecharacteristic direction to rotate, the plurality of rotors beingorganized into a plurality of pairs of every two mutually adjacentrotors, a first coupling acting to urge the characteristic directions tobe opposingly parallel for two of the rotors belonging to the same pair,a second coupling acting to urge the characteristic directions to beopposingly parallel for two mutually adjacent rotors belonging tomutually adjacent pairs, a distance between two mutually adjacent rotorsbelonging to mutually adjacent pairs being greater than a distancebetween two of the rotors belonging to the same pair.
 22. The deviceaccording to claim 21, wherein: the rotor is made of a ferromagnet; thecharacteristic direction is a magnetization direction of theferromagnet; and the rotating force application unit is configured torotate a magnetic field.
 23. The device according to claim 21, wherein:the rotor is a polar molecule; the characteristic direction is adirection from one pole of the polar molecule toward one other pole ofthe polar molecule; and the rotating force application unit isconfigured to rotate an electric field.